Muhammad Ali, Michael J. Fox, Linda Ronstadt – these are some of the most well-known faces of Parkinson’s disease.
But millions of people all over the world are living with this diagnosis, and dealing with the constant tremors, pain, and depression that can come with it.
Medication and therapy alike have been used to treat the symptoms and slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease in the brain . . .
. . . and if mindfulness can change the brain, could we apply it in treating Parkinson’s?
That’s exactly what Barbara A. Pickut, MD, M.P.H and researchers at the University of Antwerp in Belgium wanted to find out.
They recruited Parkinson’s outpatients to participate in an -week study, and randomly assigned them to either a
mindfulness-based intervention group or a usual care group (which served as the control).
The mindfulness-based intervention group took part in eight weekly two and a half hour meetings that included mindfulness exercises like body scans, mindful movement (yoga), and sitting meditation. Participants in this group also received audio recordings of guided meditation so they could practice every day at home.
To determine brain change, participants underwent MRIs before and after the 8-week intervention.
So what did the researchers find?
In the mindfulness group, MRIs showed increased grey matter density in the hippocampus (left and right) and in the right amygdala. The same thing was found in areas of the right and left caudate nucleus, left occipital lobe, and left thalamus.
Parkinson’s can affect any and all of these parts of the brain.
By contrast, the usual care group showed increased grey matter density in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that tends to compensate for the other parts that are affected by Parkinson’s.
Remarkably, this result was absent in the experimental group, which could imply that this part of the brain no longer needed to play a support role when mindfulness is a factor.
Since this study didn’t include a group meant to control for the effects of mindfulness, we can’t be sure that the results were directly connected to mindfulness training. Also, I’d be very interested to see if these results translated to motor/sensory function improvement in the experimental group.
More on this study can be found in Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery (2013).
How have you used mindfulness to help a client cope with a life-changing condition? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
I was diagnosed 2 years ago at age 63. Symptoms were tremor in right leg, loss of handwriting ability,My normally beautiful cursive writing was now small cramped printing and soft voice. I also had difficulty rising from a seated position and have balance issues. I started out taking only Azilect, then Mirapex, and then Sinemet. Several months ago I started falling frequently, hence the reason for Sinemet. During the summer of 2021, I was introduced to Health Herbs Clinic and their effective Parkinson’s herbal protocol. This protocol relieved symptoms significantly, even better than the medications I was given. Visit www . healthherbsclinic . com. After First month on treatment, my tremors mysterious stopped, had improvement walking. After I completed the treatment, all symptoms were gone. I live a more productive life. I was fortunate to have the loving support of my husband and family. I make it a point to appreciate every day!
I was diagnosed 2011. i was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. My symptoms progressed quickly. Soon i was having difficulty breathing, swallowing and even walking short distances. With the help of Kycuyu Health Clinic natural herbs I have been able to reverse my symptoms using diet, herbs, which i feel has made the most difference. The Parkinson’s natural formula immensely helped my condition, it reversed my Parkinson’s. my slurred speech. And then the inability to eat without getting choked, my Handwriting, and mobility. gradually disappeared. Visit KYCUYU HEALTH CLINIC via their official web-site www. Kycuyuhealthclinic .com I’m now playing golf again. and i turned 69 today. i am glad to get my life back DON’T GIVE UP HOPE!!!
Hello! I am a patient in the US. Through music therapy, and mindful meditation I have considerably controled my tremors during the early stages of Parkinson’s . I wonder if I would be able to meditate as the disease advances, been that stillness is necessary to meditate. And I am aware of the increase of the involuntary movements as Parkinson’s progresses. Also, respiration exercises have relieved the intense anxiety I feel specially when I wake up in the morning. The morning depression, is what concerns me the most, because it has became “the mother of ALL depressions” I have ever experienced. It is very scary, and even hard to put in words. Thanks in advance for your time. Kindly, Denise
This was a study conducted in Belgium. Is there a comparable study or specific group conducting this with specialized instruction to make certain it is a repeatable experience in the US? Please bring definition to body scans, mindfulness movement and sitting meditation. I look forward to your response.
Both my father and my husband are PD patients, and I would love to help them improve. My husband does routine aerobic exercise, which provides significant improvement. Neither has retired from business, but rather struggle through each day as best they can. Mood shifts under stress are likely the biggest obstacle to contend with beyond the obvious tremors.
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Hi Marilyn,
Just wondering if you would be interested in exploring a hybrid approach that is a combination of 3rd Generation Hypnotherapy, Advanced EFT and believe it or not, Therapeutic Shaking.
This blend has been used by me and my colleagues to help people heal themselves from everything from Cancer, Parkinson’s to PTSD.
Your guidance is appreciated.
With appreciation for the good work you do,
R
All disease including Parkinsons is a result of many factors. These include tuning out, poor nutrition, fatigue, stress, insufficient exercise, emotional repression, muscle contraction, environmental factors such as poor air quality, water, pesticides. We must address all factors one at a time.
Thank you for sharing this research on Parkinson’s. One of my clients finds relief with deep breathing and relaxation techniques. I am going to share this with her. I think she will be really excited to see these findings. I also have started her on a product for Brain Health called EMPower Plus Q96. She has had more mobility and better reflexes with her left hand since she started taking it. Great to find anything that helps.
Hi, can you please post the study you referenced for this article? I can’t seem to find it. I have a Parkinson’s client I would love to give this information too.
Thank you so much.
Marilyn Edwards
Hi Marilyn,
This link will bring you to the abstract of the study. Unfortunately, the full text is not available without a subscription, but this link will give you access to the abstract and options for full access.
Hello Marilyn!
What part of Fl are you located at. I live in Florida and have Parkinson’s . Could you please briefly share how your professional expertise relates to Parkinson’s patients? I am in the early stages of this disease. My email is denisevalerio123@gmail.com
My husband was diagnosed of Parkinsons disease 2 years ago, when he was 59. He had a stooped posture, tremors, right arm does not move and also a pulsating feeling in his body. He was placed on Senemet for 8 months and then Siferol was introduced and replaced the Senemet, during this time span he was also diagnosed with dementia. He started having hallucinations, lost touch with. Suspecting it was the medication I took him off the Siferol (with the doctor’s knowledge) him on PD natural herbal formula we ordered from TREE OF LIFE HEALTH CLINIC, his symptoms totally declined over a 3 weeks use of the TREE OF LIFE HEALTH Parkinson’s disease natural herbal formula. He is now almost 61 and doing very well, the disease is totally reversed! (w w w. treeoflifeherbalclinic .com)